DEL NORTE - Construction crews picked up the last pieces of equipment scattered along Grand Avenue in Del Norte just in time for the annual Covered Wagon Days celebrations.  

New paint, new sidewalks, new light poles, flower beds, benches and trash receptacles greeted guests as they gathered over the weekend bringing the two years long downtown revitalization project to an end. 

Celebrations kicked off Friday night with a charity dinner in honor of Veterans. High Valley Community Center was packed to the brim with people who came out to enjoy a delicious meal and supported a wonderful cause. All proceeds collected from the event are used to support veteran programs from various charities including those offered here in the San Luis Valley. 

The fun was only beginning as Saturday bloomed fresh and clear thanks to the rain that the area had received earlier in the week. The Bees Knees 5k walk and run contestants were up with the sun ready to hit the trail and enjoy a morning of fresh air and beautiful mountain scenery around Del Norte. 

While contestants ran their was through the morning, others gathered once again at the High Valley Community Center and enjoyed a long-standing tradition with the Val Alto Pancake breakfast. The Del Norte Chapter of local women alongside their countless volunteers served up a delicious morning breakfast and served just over 150 people according to one attendee and volunteer. 

The Del Norte Public Library parking lot was jam packed full of book lovers for the annual book sale. Trailers were loaded with boxes and boxes of every book a person could want. Guests shopped while Johnny the Radant fiddler played several well-known tunes. 

As the breakfast came to a close, guests began wandering downtown and before 9 a.m. Grand Avenue was filled with people of all ages waiting for the annual parade. This year’s theme was Spirits of Del Norte’s Past and it was captured perfectly in the many floats and participants. The Windsor Hotel brought out their resident ghosts, dressed in1800 garb while the Del Norte Tiger Cheerleading Squad strutted their stuff with candy skull face painting.  

The rest of the day consisted of an ice cream social at the Rio Grande County Museum where guests stepped into the past and enjoyed some refreshing ice cream, a car show and vendor market in the town park and of course the Rhythms on the Rio Music Festival. The Del Norte North Park was the place to be on Saturday as people took to the river while enjoying the musical talents brought to town by the South Fork Music Association.  

Sunday brought the annual fly in breakfast and car show at the Kent Rominger Airport, a church service and lunch in North Park and the end of the music festival. With Covered Wagon Days over, the new revitalization of downtown, it is safe to say that Del Norte is ready to move from one season to the next and look forward to all that is yet to come.